1940-03-18 — Page 5

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 18, 1940

Violent New Peace Offensive Predicted

HITLER AND DUCE MEETAT BRENNER

(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL ")

PARIS, TO-DAY. LIVELJEST SPECULATION HAS BEEN AROUSED IN DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES BY OFFICIAL: CONFIRMATION OF THE SUSPICION THAT SIGNOR MUS- SOLINI'S "MYSTERY TRIP" TO NORTH ITALY IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF MEETING HITLER.

The meeting is to take place at Brenner on the borders of Italy and Austria, and German official quarters state that it was arranged by Ribbentrop when he went to Rome, although there is some belief that Hitler sought the meeting with Mussolini subsequently to try personally to gain as- surances from II Duce which Ribbentrop failed to extract.

Other quarters predict a new peace offensive, with

which the name of Mr. Sumner Welles is in- DUBLIN'S ST. evitably linked. Rumours have in fact gone PATRICK'S

so far as to suggest that Mr. Sumner Welles, in view of the development, which followed his second talk with II Duce, may postpone his re- turn to the United States.

DAY

Dublin, To-day.

The coincidence of Palm Sunday

referred to by Prime Minister De Va-

There is, however, no confirmation of the report and St. Patrick's Day yesterday was and officially Mr. Welles will leave on Wednes-era on Saturday night, when he said day on schedule. Arranged By Ribbentrop

Berlin, To-day.

Havas:

Pressure On Mr. Welles

For Peace Drive

It is officially announced that the meeting between Signor Mussolini and

London. To-day. Hitler was arranged during von Rib-cles in London of the reasons for the Nothing is known in diplomatic cir- bentrop's recent visit to Rome.

The meeting will be held to-day (Monday) in Brenner,, the frontier village. Reuter

Count Clano With Mussolini

Rome, To-day. Count Ciano has accompanied Signor Mussolini on his trip to Brenner.

General Impression in diplomatic and political quarters in Rome is that the Mussolini-Hitler meeting must be presumed to be connected with the ac- tivities of Mr. Sumner Welles, parti- cularly his interviews yesterday with King Victor Emmanuel and Mussolini and Clano. Reuter.

An Attempt To Relieve Strain In Relations?

Paris, To-day. Well-informed circles in Paris be- lieve that the Hitler-Mussolini meet- ing may have partly been inspired by the strain which is being put on Italo- German relations and which. have been apparent below the surface for some time.

+

The strain is said to have become particularly evident during Rib bentrop's visit and to have baan supported by information from Rome which was to the effect that Italy does not intend to change her attitude towarda :Russia..

At the same time, it is understood that authoritative quarters in Rome connect the meeting of the Dictators with the presence in Rome of - Mr. Sumner Welles, though the exact connection is not defined.

PEACE MOVE.

It is understood, that diplomatic.

quarters in Rome were more

departure of Signor Mussolini for northern Italy to meet Hitler.

There is little doubt, says Reuter's diplomatic correspondent, that Herr: von Ribbentrop's visit to Rome was undertaken partly for the purpose of taking advantage of Mr. Sumner Welles' tour, to launch a peace offen- sive.

The "New York Times". report- ed from Rome that pressure was being exerted on Mr. Sumner Welles "to Induce the United States to throw Its weight--b6--- hind a peaotiated peace." Gen. Balbo's newspaper "Corrier, Espando also links Mr. Welles' with the possibility of an early peace.

Mr. Welles has repeatedly emphas- ised that his mission is solely to es- tablish facts and not to make pro- posals or to enter into any commit- ments on behalf of his Government.--- Reuter.

Mr. Sumner Welles To See Pope To-day

Rome, To-day.

Mr. Sumner Welles' is expected to leave Rome this evening for Genoa to meet his wife who has been spending the last few days at San Remo.

His States has been fixed for 1 p.m. on departure for the United Wednesday in the Italian liner "Conte di Savola."

hassador yesterday morning. He is to Mr. Welles saw the American Am». he received in private audience by the companied by Mr. Myron Taylor. Pope and 10 am, this morning, ac-

see Cardinal Maglione, the Papal Se- After the audience, Mr. Welles will

cretary of State, Reuter,

GENERAL WAVELL IN CAPETOWN

Capetown, To-day,

Archibald Wavell,

in- General · Sir:

terested in Mr. Welles' second visit Commander-in-Chief of British Forces than his first. Though not much hope 'n the Middle Tast, has arrived here is entertained In Rome for a suc-for-a 2-day discussion with fi cessful peace drive, it is expected that ermm and military author! a move will be made.

He said that his fkiks in“)

Well-informed circles lay stress on the

the statement yesterday in Count He also held Swisciistic Clano's newspaper, "Telegrafo," that and the war may last a very long time -Reuter,

(in Sou

back to

that he believed that this` coincidence had occurred only once in the last 140 years.

The usual celebrations in Dublin were curtalled by the war. There were no military parades, although a troop of cavalry escorted President Hyde to a special Protestant service. De Valera and Ministers attended a Catholic service. Reuter.

M. GRIPENBERG OFF TO HELSINKI

London, To-day. MGripenberg. Finnish Minister to London, left for Helsinki on Saturday. It is not known how long he will stay away. euter.

OFF THE RECORD

padding his

Here's Luck

HITLER HAS LOST FIVE BIG INDUSTRIAL CHIEFS

Hitler has lost another indus- trial king, the Silesian coal mag. nate. Count Carl' Henkel÷Don- nersmarck, who died after an "acoldont."

Since the Berlin-Moscow Pact, five leaders of German heavy In- dustry have gone-Fritz : Thyssen and Dr. Hugenberg fled to Bwit- zerland; the steel king' Ottö Wolff died mysteriously. in Cologne, young Krupp was killed in. Po. land, and Henkel-Donneramārak's) managing director, Dr. Beck, committed suicide, the day after his chlof's death.

All five opposed the deal with Moscow, and were close collabor- ators of Goering's, says the Paris "Solr."

This series of disappearancss- and mysterious deaths is, part (of a purge of great... Industrial-

leaders.

BEST. FAIRY TALE SINCE “SNOW WHITE"

(SPECIAL TO “CHINA, MAIL");

London, To-day. - "The best fairy tale. I've heard. since Snow White," was how Mr Joseph Kennedy, American- Ambassador to Britain, termed the report: alleging that strained relations exist between the British Government and himself.--- Havas.

By Ed Reed

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